Somalia: Hormuud Telecom re-certified by GSMA for secure mobile money services

Hormuud’s EVC Plus platform is used by more than 4.5 million people daily and supports over 145 NGOs in distributing humanitarian aid.

MOGADISHU – Somalia’s largest telecom operator, Hormuud Telecom, has been re-certified by the GSMA Mobile Money Certification programme, reinforcing its role in delivering secure and transparent mobile financial services.

The certification places Hormuud’s EVC Plus platform among just ten mobile money services globally to meet GSMA’s rigorous international standards. Other certified providers include Safaricom M-PESA, Vodacom M-PESA, and MTN MoMo.

Originally certified in 2022, Hormuud’s renewed status follows an independent assessment covering areas such as fraud prevention, customer data protection, and operational resilience.

“This is a vote of confidence in the strength, transparency, and scalability of our systems,” said Hormuud CEO Mohamed Farah. “It’s a clear sign that Somalia is open for business.”

Mobile money has become central to the Somali economy, where traditional banking remains limited. A World Bank report estimates that around 155 million mobile money transactions are made each month in Somalia, valued at roughly $2.7 billion. Nearly three-quarters of Somalis aged 16 and above use mobile money.

Hormuud’s EVC Plus platform is used by more than 4.5 million people daily and supports over 145 NGOs in distributing humanitarian aid. The company says the re-certification will support further innovation as it expands smartphone adoption and accelerates 5G rollout across the country.

Hormuud Telecom, founded in 2002, is Somalia’s largest private sector employer. It was the first local operator to receive both a mobile money license from the Central Bank and GSMA certification.

GAROWE ONLINE